In the wake of the success of the Muppet Babies TV show, Marvel Comics' "kid" imprint Star Comics began releasing the Muppet Babies comic book title on a bi-monthly basis. These were new stories, not adaptations of existing stories from the TV show.

At first, each story was approximately the full length of the comic (approx. 22 pages). Later in the series' run, two 11-page stories were included per issue.

While adults were rarely if ever seen on the TV show (even Nanny was only seen from the striped socks down), adult characters were often featured in the comic, usually as villains.

The first issue of the comic was dated May 1985, and the last issue was dated July 1989. There were 26 issues in total. The majority of the stories were illustrated by Marie Severin, with the back-up stories in the last two issues being drawn by Nate Butler. Writers for the series included Stan Kay, Laura Hitchcock, Angelo DeCesare and Bill Prady.

Harvey Comics later issued a Muppet Babies title, consisting of reprints of the Marvel run with new cover art (Harvey's editor in chief Sid Jacobson had presided over the Star line). In addition to two specials in 1992, the Harvey reprints ran from June 1993 until November 1994, totaling six issues in the regular run.

Bastei-Verlag distributed the comics' German language translation Die Muppet Babies in the late 1980s. Grupo Editorial Vid in Mexico published an original Muppet Babies comic entitled Los Pequeños Muppets in the early 1990s.

Contents

Issues

Picture

Title

Description

Issue #1May 1985

The Haunted Nursery

Written by: Stan Kay

Art by: Marie Severin

Issue #2July 1985

The Big Space Adventure

Written by: Stan Kay

Art by: Marie Severin

In somewhat of a spoof of both Star Trek and Star Wars, Princess Piggy, along with her loyal crew, tries to escape the advances of King Nonzo of Onzo. The latter turns out to be a grown-up version of Gonzo, with a grown-up Miss Piggy making a cameo as his intergalactic fortune teller.

Issue #3September 1985

Kermit and the Beanstalk

Written by: Stan Kay

Art by: Marie Severin

Initially, Skeeter attempts to climb the beanstalk, but is called down because she doesn't meet Jack's profile of being clever and quick. Miss Piggy volunteers Kermit, who climbs up to the clouds. The giant is Gonzo, and he is married to Mrs. Giant (Miss Piggy). To quote Kermit "I kinda feel sorry for the giant." The giant thinks Jack has returned, and pulls up the beanstalk so he can't get back down. Mrs. Giant hides Kermit in the dungeon, where he is later discovered, leading to a confrontation. Kermit proves he's not Jack, he's a frog, and says he'd never steal anything. The Giant is flattered to learn he's in a book, but gets angry discovering he's the villain, and ends up breaking a hole in the floor beneath him. He discovers a stockpile of golden eggs in the cellar, and lets Kermit go.

Scooter is a tax collector, and Animal is their servant, Weirdo.

Issue #4November 1985

The Dream Machine

Written by: Stan Kay

Art by: Marie Severin

Issue #5January 1986

The Idol of Doom

Written by: Stan Kay

Art by: Marie Severin

Issue #6March 1986

If I Ran the World

Written by: Stan Kay

Art by: Marie Severin

Issue #7May 1986

Lost in Time

Written by: Stan Kay

Art by: Marie Severin

Using Baby Bunsen's new invention, a beanie intended as a funny hat, Baby Fozzie travels back in time, and meets many of his ancestors, also comedians. The other babies follow, to rescue him.

Fozzie's ancestors, in order of appearance, are Phozzie the Phony (music hall comic in 1850), Fwozzie (comedian to Napoleon Bonaparte), Fozzicus the Witty (jester to Hannibal), Sir Fozzilot (member of King Arthur's court), and a Prehistoric Fuzzy Fozzie.

Issue #8July 1986

Story Land Caper

Written by: Stan Kay

Art by: Marie Severin

Issue #9September 1986

CleoPiggy, Queen of the Nile

Written by: Stan Kay

Art by: Marie Severin

Issue #10November 1986

The Weather Demon

Written by: Stan Kay

Art by: Marie Severin

Bunsen and Beaker invent a weather machine so that the babies can turn off the rain and have a picnic. Baby Animal steals the machine, and starts pressing buttons, apparently causing a snowstorm, typhoon. and hurricane. It turns out that the weather machine doesn't work, and that the Weather Demon, a huge demonic cloud, is actually creating the bad weather.

The day is saved when the Weather Demon makes friends with Animal, who he resembles. He creates a rainbow that carries the Babies home to the nursery.

The cover of the issue includes a frame of Marvel's famous superheroes, as part of the company's celebration of its 25th anniversary. The heroes pictured on the cover include Spider-Man, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Doctor Strange, Captain America, the X-Men, Daredevil, Thor, and the Fantastic Four.